3 Whooper Swans flew over me (West) as I walked across the rucks to the Western End at 8.05am. 10 minutes later they came back and landed again. 5 minutes after that they flew off West again. 3 Snipe from Horrocks 1 Kingfisher from Edmonson 1 Redwing 1 Pintail (female) 6 Little Grebe at the Wetsern end 8 Meadow Pipits flushed on the rucks Lots of Shoveler, Lapwing and Tufteds 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker by the car park All the usuals from the Bunting Hide
-- Edited by Adam Jones on Sunday 6th of November 2011 10:48:07 AM
Craig Higson said
Sun Nov 6 10:35 AM, 2011
3 wigeon plus at least 1 possibly 2 green sandpipers were about the main birds of interest up to 10.30am
Jon Taverner said
Sun Nov 6 8:58 AM, 2011
14 Whooper Swans landed at 9.45am, stayed 30 seconds and then flew off southwards
Nick Isherwood said
Sun Nov 6 8:26 AM, 2011
Early morning start saw me on the bank at the west end at 6.40am looking for last nights Whooper Swans.
As the light slowly grew and the mist lifted I managed to locate one Whooper feeding with a dozen Mute Swans close in on the near bank about half way to the point. They were really unconcerned by my presence as I viewed the bird from only 30 yards away.
A check of the rest of the main body of the flash didn't reveal any more Whoopers. As I made my way back down the bank, the single Whooper had made it's way across to the other side and then eventually flew off east at 7.20am.
steven burke said
Sat Nov 5 10:12 PM, 2011
JOHN TYMON wrote:
steven burke wrote:
1-4.45pm 7 whooper swans arrived on lake at 4.15pm. managed to see 5 off the 7 skiens john seen,so at least 1000 pink footed geese over throughout the afternoon,all heading east. 1 kingfisher (pengys) 3 snipe (horrocks) 2 sparrowhawks 2 willow tits in with flock off long tailed tits near main entrance large gull roost as per usual & usual birds around.
pleasant afternoon
john,i was looking out for you when the whoopers came in but you obviously seen them anyway
yep they flew over my head,when i was doing landscapes ,by the car park,unfortunately was using the wrong camera,or id have had a crackin,flight shot,but changed cameras and got a few record shots against the sunset later.
not like you to be using the wrong camera,tried a few shots myself but not the best still a good sight & sunset.
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Nov 5 9:55 PM, 2011
steven burke wrote:
1-4.45pm 7 whooper swans arrived on lake at 4.15pm. managed to see 5 off the 7 skiens john seen,so at least 1000 pink footed geese over throughout the afternoon,all heading east. 1 kingfisher (pengys) 3 snipe (horrocks) 2 sparrowhawks 2 willow tits in with flock off long tailed tits near main entrance large gull roost as per usual & usual birds around.
pleasant afternoon
john,i was looking out for you when the whoopers came in but you obviously seen them anyway
yep they flew over my head,when i was doing landscapes ,by the car park,unfortunately was using the wrong camera,or id have had a crackin,flight shot,but changed cameras and got a few record shots against the sunset later.
steven burke said
Sat Nov 5 9:33 PM, 2011
1-4.45pm 7 whooper swans arrived on lake at 4.15pm. managed to see 5 off the 7 skiens john seen,so at least 1000 pink footed geese over throughout the afternoon,all heading east. 1 kingfisher (pengys) 3 snipe (horrocks) 2 sparrowhawks 2 willow tits in with flock off long tailed tits near main entrance large gull roost as per usual & usual birds around.
pleasant afternoon
john,i was looking out for you when the whoopers came in but you obviously seen them anyway
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Nov 5 5:15 PM, 2011
pm Whooper swans -7 flew in at dusk pink footed geese- 7 skiens -over 1500 bird and still moving through when i left at dusk goldeneye-6 f/imm kingfisher-2 Pintail-1f Water Rail-2 and a fairly big Gull Roost
plus the usuals
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 5th of November 2011 08:38:39 PM
Alan Rowley said
Sat Nov 5 4:56 PM, 2011
The same 7 Mr Berry clocked over Astley Moss at 4PM no doubt.
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Nov 5 4:28 PM, 2011
Seven Whooper Swans flew in amongst the gull roost at 4:15 this afternoon.
Info thanks to Steven Burke
Adam Jones said
Sat Nov 5 1:53 PM, 2011
Saturday 5th November 7.30-10.30
A good morning uncovered the following: 2 Kingfishers (1 across Emdmonson and the other behind Ramsdale Hide) Lots of Shoveler, Gadwall, Tufteds, Mallards and Teal 6 Little Grebe 14 Redwing (behind and around Ramsdale Hide) Willow Tit from the Bunting Hide, along with the usual Bullfinches, Chaffinches and Greenfinches. Also, 1 Magpie minus it's tail feathers, although this didn't seem to affect it too much.
JOHN TYMON said
Fri Nov 4 6:54 PM, 2011
Full tour right round the flash with Charlie owen Little Grebe-19(13 at the west end-nowt that looked anything like a black necked Grebe) stock dove -25 Water Rail-2 Kingfisher-2 large number of Tufted,Gadwall,Lapwing,coot,Mallard A few pochard A few Fieldfare and plenty Redwings on the south Bank plenty Teal and Shoveler Jay-6 Jackdaw-200+ going to roost on the south bank at dusk a decent gull rooste with 3000+ Black headed gull and a smattering of all the other common species,and a few Greater Black Backed Common Buzzard-2 Kestrel-2 plus all the other usuals
John Doherty said
Thu Nov 3 3:42 PM, 2011
Today: 8.30am
1 Kingfisher going across main Flash 6 x Snipe at Horrock's 4 x Stock Dove at Bunting Hide. Pengy's had four Shoveler on All the usuals in the trees.
When I returned later to the Flash after taking care of some local business, a second bite of the cherry yielded:
1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Little Grebe and 1 F Pintail at Ramsdale 1 Kestrel hunting the far eastern jut of woodland from Ramsdale
Lots of Shoveler and some teal throughout. Pied Wagtail on the golf course as I was heading home.
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Nov 2 9:52 PM, 2011
Female Pintail still present on Ramsdales Hide today.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Nov 2 9:49 PM, 2011
The hides may be open after first light tomorrow. The regular birder who usually opens up very early is away in Norfolk this week but a volunteer is usually about early and has keys to the hides. An early visit is still worthwhile even if the hides are closed for a short while awaiting a key holder and checking the trees and bushes plus perhaps a nice walk across Ramsdales Ruck to the western end is always productive.
John Doherty said
Wed Nov 2 7:24 PM, 2011
General Pennington Flash question: what time do the hides open? Because I am planning to go there first thing tomorrow and am in the area briefly at a certain early time but have to dash to other business.
John Doherty said
Tue Nov 1 4:33 PM, 2011
Today: 1 x Sparrowhawk which unsettled the spit but failed to coax out a Snipe which was reported there.
2 x Kingfisher (1 Along Golf Course brook, another at the very end of Horrock's)
1 Stock Dove at Bunting Hide.
Lots of the usuals.
I was informed the Black-Necked Grebe were somewhere around the bay east of the yacht club - which would be in the North West corner of the main flash looking from Horrock's hide.
Nick Isherwood said
Tue Nov 1 4:27 PM, 2011
A quick 45 minutes this evening just before the hides were shut.
4 Snipe - Horrocks 1 Goldeneye (f) - off end of spit c15 Common Gull 1 Kingfisher - perched up in front of Tom Edmonsons hide c15 Redwing - in tree opposite Tom Edmonsons 2 Little Grebe - Rammies 1 Pintail (f) - Rammies
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Nov 1 2:09 PM, 2011
No sign of the Black-necked Grebes just after midday today despite a serious search. Another birder there did inform me that they were present and where to look but I was met with three Little Grebes
Juvenile Arctic Tern still present and showing well, plus a few Lesser Redpoll with a tit flock around the wooded area between the western end car park and flash.
The weed growth is indeed extensive and it's not the first time this has occurred at this site (or others). Today there were 41 Lapwing stood on it in the middle of the flash at the western end and when it occurred in late September 1996 at Pearsons Flash the waders wandering about on it then were Little Stints!
Jonathan Platt said
Tue Nov 1 10:56 AM, 2011
Gordon Newman wrote:
AT THE WEST END , SEEMS THAT AN AREA OF VEGETATION STRETCHING FROM THE BANK TO ABOUT HALF WAY ACROSS FLASH WHICH I'VE NEVER NOTICED BEFORE
I was scoping this from Green Lane last week. I thought it was the sand bank that regularly appears when the water's low . . . except water levels aren't that low at the moment! Seems much bigger (or longer) than usual if it is the sand bank?
Gordon Newman said
Mon Oct 31 8:44 PM, 2011
AT THE WEST END , SEEMS THAT AN AREA OF VEGETATION STRETCHING FROM THE BANK TO ABOUT HALF WAY ACROSS FLASH WHICH I'VE NEVER NOTICED BEFORE THAT THE LAPWING WERE TAKING FULL USE OF THE GREBES WERE MOVING AROUND BOTH SIDES OF THE VEGETATION.
Danny Spencer said
Mon Oct 31 8:10 PM, 2011
Gordon,Just wondering were you saw the black necked grebe?
Gordon Newman said
Mon Oct 31 2:03 PM, 2011
3 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Juv Artic Tern, 150+ Lapwing, 1 female Wigeon plus usuals all at west end late morning
Mike Passant said
Sun Oct 30 9:23 PM, 2011
Talking it up and/or ticking it still won't get me down there, - so there!
james hall said
Sun Oct 30 8:22 PM, 2011
after my rugby match walk round:
1 red crested pochard witch i have been looking for since yesterday
3 black necked grebe(west end) 80 tuffted 40 pochard loads off redwing 100s coot 1 juv arctic tern (near east bay hide whilst watching the popchard) 4 snipe 2 water rail (west end)
Nick Isherwood said
Sun Oct 30 4:56 PM, 2011
Sightings from earlier today 10.00 till 12.00pm.
1 Red Crested Pochard - drake 2 Snipe - Horrocks 1 Goldeneye - female flew up the spit but didn't see it land 2 Little Grebe - Rammies 1 Water Rail - heard only near Rammies 2 Lesser Redpoll - fly overs Loads of Redwing about feeding on berries.
Plus all the usuals.
-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Sunday 30th of October 2011 05:05:16 PM
-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Sunday 30th of October 2011 09:40:30 PM
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Oct 30 4:42 PM, 2011
Lucky the pochard stopped at all today as we had several passes of a nutcase paraglider,that bombed the rucks,then the point then across rammies and across teal scrape just above tree hieght turned and did the reverse run,putting every duck off every pool including the flash,at one point at 12pm there was most likely 1000+ duck flying around in a daze wondering what was going on.
John Doherty said
Sun Oct 30 3:44 PM, 2011
Let's hope the Red-Crested Pochard stays until I can get over there on Tuesday/Wednesday.
-- Edited by John Doherty on Sunday 30th of October 2011 03:44:47 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Oct 30 2:59 PM, 2011
Drake Red-crested Pochard still present at 3:45 and currently looking as wild and acceptable as they get in the county!
As for dodgy R-c Pochards and Gippo Geese always being fair game, well, all Gippo Geese are minging captive origin blighters (even those Norfolk birds!) , but some R-c Pochards are genuine wild birds. It's just sifting through what's good and what's bad which is the problem. So long as this one avoids the Mallards around the car park it's at least probably not the drake which has lived in the canal anywhere from Leigh town centre to Butts Bridge for the past several years, if it's still about at all that is
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 30th of October 2011 04:10:25 PM
Mike Passant said
Sun Oct 30 9:19 AM, 2011
I'm definately staying put at home, unless the RCP is joined by a Long-tailed Duck, a R B Merganser or similar. In other words, "I won't tick it if you don't," (besides, it's cheaper that way). Regards, Mike P.
Ian Woosey said
Sun Oct 30 8:57 AM, 2011
keith mills wrote: .Perhaps next year I will go for the Non- tickable Greater Manchester List. What's the record for that then??
4 ? Barnacle Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Black Swan and Bar-headed Goose. Dodgy Red-crested Pochards and Egyptian Geese are and have always been fair game !?
Keith Mills said
Sat Oct 29 9:59 PM, 2011
Certainly a cracking Pochard makes the usual one look drab.Perhaps next year I will go for the Non- tickable Greater Manchester List. What's the record for that then??
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Oct 29 9:53 PM, 2011
Karen Foulkes wrote:
Whatever the origins of the Red Crested Pochard, it is certainly a cracker.
Thanks to Jo and Roy from the RSPB for the use of their scope
It was definately wilder than the one that was here a couple of years ago that tried to get in my car when I opened the doorIt looked strangely today a lot bigger than any I can remember and seemed to swim with its head very high,and kept to the middle with the other common pochards,and looked a lot different than the stunted tame ones at Martin MereGood Find Karen
Karen Foulkes said
Sat Oct 29 9:18 PM, 2011
Whatever the origins of the Red Crested Pochard, it is certainly a cracker.
Thanks to Jo and Roy from the RSPB for the use of their scope
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Oct 29 5:22 PM, 2011
Feildfare-150>E Redwing-100+ Kingfisher-2 Red Crested pochard-1 Male out from east bay hide common snipe-15 Water Rail-1 plus the usuals
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sat Oct 29 12:56 PM, 2011
News flash from pennington
1 red crested pochard,viewed from ice cream van area info via Karen Foulks
cheers geoff
Nick Isherwood said
Wed Oct 26 4:56 PM, 2011
Called in on my way home from work again this evening.
No sign of the Spotted Redshank. Other birds of note:
1 Snipe from Horrocks c20 Common Gull on main flash 1 Sparrowhawk Good numbers of Redwing around the park feeding on the hawthorn berries.
Keith Mills said
Tue Oct 25 5:27 PM, 2011
Thanks for that Nick! The bird met all the criteria in Collins and Nils for a winter plumage spot red. Hope you got a good picture.
Nick Isherwood said
Tue Oct 25 5:09 PM, 2011
Following the earlier post about the Spotted Redshank I managed to nip in on my way home from work and found the bird on the far island from Ramsdales hide looking really good in the evening sunshine.
As Keith posted earlier, it's a cracking looking winter plumage bird and it looked quite settled so there's a good chance of it still being there in the morning.
JOHN TYMON said
Tue Oct 25 1:35 PM, 2011
I hope everyone giving that tern a thorough looking at and doasn't just assume its the Same Arctic Tern,as it need properly identifying every time at this time of year in case its a different bird altogetherThe bird I photographed seemed to keep to the eastern end and when resting stayed to the right of the spit at the front of horrocks hide.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Tuesday 25th of October 2011 01:37:47 PM
Nick Isherwood said
Tue Oct 25 12:30 PM, 2011
keith mills wrote:
9.15 to 1030 this am
Greater Black Back Gull...`1 Spotted Redshank ....1 Lapwings ...c200 Could not locate the Tern ...and no sign of it at Plank lane end..
Was it definitely a Spotted Redshank Keith? It's a rare bird for the flash. Whereabouts was it on the flash?
Keith Mills said
Tue Oct 25 11:22 AM, 2011
9.15 to 1030 this am
Greater Black Back Gull...`1 Spotted Redshank ....1 Lapwings ...c200 Could not locate the Tern ...and no sign of it at Plank lane end..
Gordon Newman said
Tue Oct 25 10:18 AM, 2011
900- 9.45 quick walk with dogs before work,100+ Lapwing on Plank Lane marina also large flock of Linnet,large mixed tit flock by Plank Lane car park, juv Artic Tern at west end + all the usual ducks etc.
Jonathan Platt said
Mon Oct 24 8:11 PM, 2011
Juv Arctic tern was still around at teatime today, down at the Plank Lane end.
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Oct 22 6:37 PM, 2011
Nick Isherwood wrote:
JOHN TYMON wrote:
am/pm Goshawk-1 massive specimen south over yacht clubs 13.20(with a small passage south of 8 buzzard. 8 buzzard and goshawk in the air at once)new bird for the flash for me which don't come too often these days.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 22nd of October 2011 04:30:32 PM
Cracking record that John, well done mate!!
Thanks Nick Shame it wasn't a lot closer,it was almost half way to plank lane looking from horrocks hide,The size of it and the grey coulor pointed to it being most likely an adult female strangely the big passage of buzzard last weekend going south that was noticed at penny and woolston cotained at woolston a female Goshawk,so it does make me wonder if they travel south together when theres a movement south.
Nick Isherwood said
Sat Oct 22 6:24 PM, 2011
JOHN TYMON wrote:
am/pm Goshawk-1 massive specimen south over yacht clubs 13.20(with a small passage south of 8 buzzard. 8 buzzard and goshawk in the air at once)new bird for the flash for me which don't come too often these days.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 22nd of October 2011 04:30:32 PM
Cracking record that John, well done mate!!
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Oct 22 4:29 PM, 2011
am/pm Goshawk-1 massive specimen south over yacht clubs 13.20(with a small passage south of 8 buzzard. 8 buzzard and goshawk in the air at once)new bird for the flash for me which don't come too often these days. Common Buzzard-12 all going south between 13.15 and 13.40 Arctic tern- 1 juv only seen once at 1300 not seen again redwing-100+ skylark- steady passage south around 1200-1300 approx 120 birds meadow pipit-12 goldeneye-2 green sandpiper-1 large numbers of tufted duck/gadwall/mallard/teal/shoveler greater black backed gull 1 ad/1juv Peregrine-1 over west 12.30 sparrowhawk-2 kestrel-2 plus the usuals
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 22nd of October 2011 04:30:32 PM
John Doherty said
Fri Oct 21 7:00 PM, 2011
Today - What John Tymon saw, nice to meet you, John. Yes it did have very short legs. I'm not anywhere near expert to make the call but I'm very interested nontheless
Plus: Buzzard, Kingfisher (Edmonson's) Lots of Shoveler and Teal Great Spotted Woodpecker joined the party at Bunting Hide Plus the usuals
-- Edited by John Doherty on Friday 21st of October 2011 07:01:57 PM
JOHN TYMON said
Fri Oct 21 6:47 PM, 2011
Nick Isherwood wrote:
JOHN TYMON wrote:
PM Arctic Tern- 1 juv( i could be wrong but pretty sure I'm right) been present since Wed and identified as Common up to now,my thoughts when I saw it first this morning was the legs were too short,the pale edge secondaries ,white rump and the defused carpel bar looked like classic Juv Arctic and but they are really difficult in poor light and in the current plumage,pictures sent to Ian which will nail it. pintail -1f kingfisher-1 redwing 30+ little grebe-7 buzzard-1 common Snipe-2 plus the usuals
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 21st of October 2011 05:51:17 PM
Just checked the Collins and between the two species there really isn't much in it. Dark carpal bars present on both species and White rump on Arctic and pale grey rump on Common Tern.
As you said John, it did have short legs and I did note the streamers seemed a little long. I'll bow to your greater experience of this and agree with you. That said, I'll still be interested to see what Ian says though.
And me ,I have been wrong before many times,and don't mind admitting that.With birds theres always a daupt,expecially when I only had my bins and camera,and I daupted myself a lot as everyone I met today said there's Juv Common tern on and its been on since Wednesday,at which point I said I think its an Arctic.So you never know everyone else could be right and me wrongIts all good fun and either way it should beggar off now and get a move on or it will never get down to the Antarctic
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 21st of October 2011 06:51:04 PM
Nick Isherwood said
Fri Oct 21 6:22 PM, 2011
JOHN TYMON wrote:
PM Arctic Tern- 1 juv( i could be wrong but pretty sure I'm right) been present since Wed and identified as Common up to now,my thoughts when I saw it first this morning was the legs were too short,the pale edge secondaries ,white rump and the defused carpel bar looked like classic Juv Arctic and but they are really difficult in poor light and in the current plumage,pictures sent to Ian which will nail it. pintail -1f kingfisher-1 redwing 30+ little grebe-7 buzzard-1 common Snipe-2 plus the usuals
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 21st of October 2011 05:51:17 PM
Just checked the Collins and between the two species there really isn't much in it. Dark carpal bars present on both species and White rump on Arctic and pale grey rump on Common Tern.
As you said John, it did have short legs and I did note the streamers seemed a little long. I'll bow to your greater experience of this and agree with you. That said, I'll still be interested to see what Ian says though.
3 Whooper Swans flew over me (West) as I walked across the rucks to the Western End at 8.05am. 10 minutes later they came back and landed again. 5 minutes after that they flew off West again.
3 Snipe from Horrocks
1 Kingfisher from Edmonson
1 Redwing
1 Pintail (female)
6 Little Grebe at the Wetsern end
8 Meadow Pipits flushed on the rucks
Lots of Shoveler, Lapwing and Tufteds
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker by the car park
All the usuals from the Bunting Hide
-- Edited by Adam Jones on Sunday 6th of November 2011 10:48:07 AM
As the light slowly grew and the mist lifted I managed to locate one Whooper feeding with a dozen Mute Swans close in on the near bank about half way to the point. They were really unconcerned by my presence as I viewed the bird from only 30 yards away.
A check of the rest of the main body of the flash didn't reveal any more Whoopers. As I made my way back down the bank, the single Whooper had made it's way across to the other side and then eventually flew off east at 7.20am.
not like you to be using the wrong camera,tried a few shots myself but not the best
yep they flew over my head,when i was doing landscapes ,by the car park,unfortunately was using the wrong camera,or id have had a crackin,flight shot,but changed cameras and got a few record shots against the sunset later.
7 whooper swans arrived on lake at 4.15pm.
managed to see 5 off the 7 skiens john seen,so at least 1000 pink footed geese over throughout the afternoon,all heading east.
1 kingfisher (pengys)
3 snipe (horrocks)
2 sparrowhawks
2 willow tits in with flock off long tailed tits near main entrance
large gull roost as per usual & usual birds around.
pleasant afternoon
john,i was looking out for you when the whoopers came in but you obviously seen them anyway
Whooper swans -7 flew in at dusk
pink footed geese- 7 skiens -over 1500 bird and still moving through when i left at dusk
goldeneye-6 f/imm
kingfisher-2
Pintail-1f
Water Rail-2
and a fairly big Gull Roost
plus the usuals
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 5th of November 2011 08:38:39 PM
Info thanks to Steven Burke
A good morning uncovered the following:
2 Kingfishers (1 across Emdmonson and the other behind Ramsdale Hide)
Lots of Shoveler, Gadwall, Tufteds, Mallards and Teal
6 Little Grebe
14 Redwing (behind and around Ramsdale Hide)
Willow Tit from the Bunting Hide, along with the usual Bullfinches, Chaffinches and Greenfinches.
Also, 1 Magpie minus it's tail feathers, although this didn't seem to affect it too much.
Little Grebe-19(13 at the west end-nowt that looked anything like a black necked Grebe)
stock dove -25
Water Rail-2
Kingfisher-2
large number of Tufted,Gadwall,Lapwing,coot,Mallard
A few pochard
A few Fieldfare and plenty Redwings on the south Bank
plenty Teal and Shoveler
Jay-6
Jackdaw-200+ going to roost on the south bank at dusk
a decent gull rooste with 3000+ Black headed gull and a smattering of all the other common species,and a few Greater Black Backed
Common Buzzard-2
Kestrel-2
plus all the other usuals
1 Kingfisher going across main Flash
6 x Snipe at Horrock's
4 x Stock Dove at Bunting Hide.
Pengy's had four Shoveler on
All the usuals in the trees.
When I returned later to the Flash after taking care of some local business, a second bite of the cherry yielded:
1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Little Grebe and 1 F Pintail at Ramsdale
1 Kestrel hunting the far eastern jut of woodland from Ramsdale
Lots of Shoveler and some teal throughout.
Pied Wagtail on the golf course as I was heading home.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
2 x Kingfisher (1 Along Golf Course brook, another at the very end of Horrock's)
1 Stock Dove at Bunting Hide.
Lots of the usuals.
I was informed the Black-Necked Grebe were somewhere around the bay east of the yacht club - which would be in the North West corner of the main flash looking from Horrock's hide.
4 Snipe - Horrocks
1 Goldeneye (f) - off end of spit
c15 Common Gull
1 Kingfisher - perched up in front of Tom Edmonsons hide
c15 Redwing - in tree opposite Tom Edmonsons
2 Little Grebe - Rammies
1 Pintail (f) - Rammies
Juvenile Arctic Tern still present and showing well, plus a few Lesser Redpoll with a tit flock around the wooded area between the western end car park and flash.
The weed growth is indeed extensive and it's not the first time this has occurred at this site (or others). Today there were 41 Lapwing stood on it in the middle of the flash at the western end and when it occurred in late September 1996 at Pearsons Flash the waders wandering about on it then were Little Stints!
I was scoping this from Green Lane last week. I thought it was the sand bank that regularly appears when the water's low . . . except water levels aren't that low at the moment! Seems much bigger (or longer) than usual if it is the sand bank?
1 red crested pochard witch i have been looking for since yesterday
3 black necked grebe(west end)
80 tuffted
40 pochard
loads off redwing
100s coot
1 juv arctic tern (near east bay hide whilst watching the popchard)
4 snipe
2 water rail (west end)
1 Red Crested Pochard - drake
2 Snipe - Horrocks
1 Goldeneye - female flew up the spit but didn't see it land
2 Little Grebe - Rammies
1 Water Rail - heard only near Rammies
2 Lesser Redpoll - fly overs
Loads of Redwing about feeding on berries.
Plus all the usuals.
-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Sunday 30th of October 2011 05:05:16 PM
-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Sunday 30th of October 2011 09:40:30 PM
-- Edited by John Doherty on Sunday 30th of October 2011 03:44:47 PM
As for dodgy R-c Pochards and Gippo Geese always being fair game, well, all Gippo Geese are minging captive origin blighters (even those Norfolk birds!)
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 30th of October 2011 04:10:25 PM
I'm definately staying put at home, unless the RCP is joined by a Long-tailed Duck, a R B Merganser or similar. In other words, "I won't tick it if you don't," (besides, it's cheaper that way).
Regards,
Mike P.
4 ? Barnacle Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Black Swan and Bar-headed Goose. Dodgy Red-crested Pochards and Egyptian Geese are and have always been fair game !?
What's the record for that then??
It was definately wilder than the one that was here a couple of years ago that tried to get in my car when I opened the door
Thanks to Jo and Roy from the RSPB for the use of their scope
Redwing-100+
Kingfisher-2
Red Crested pochard-1 Male out from east bay hide
common snipe-15
Water Rail-1
plus the usuals
1 red crested pochard,viewed from ice cream van area
info via Karen Foulks
cheers geoff
No sign of the Spotted Redshank. Other birds of note:
1 Snipe from Horrocks
c20 Common Gull on main flash
1 Sparrowhawk
Good numbers of Redwing around the park feeding on the hawthorn berries.
The bird met all the criteria in Collins and Nils for a winter plumage spot red.
Hope you got a good picture.
As Keith posted earlier, it's a cracking looking winter plumage bird and it looked quite settled so there's a good chance of it still being there in the morning.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Tuesday 25th of October 2011 01:37:47 PM
Was it definitely a Spotted Redshank Keith? It's a rare bird for the flash. Whereabouts was it on the flash?
Spotted Redshank ....1
Lapwings ...c200
Could not locate the Tern ...and no sign of it at Plank lane end..
900- 9.45
quick walk with dogs before work,100+ Lapwing on Plank Lane marina also large flock of Linnet,large mixed tit flock by Plank Lane car park, juv Artic Tern at west end + all the usual ducks etc.
Thanks Nick
Shame it wasn't a lot closer,it was almost half way to plank lane looking from horrocks hide,The size of it and the grey coulor pointed to it being most likely an adult female strangely the big passage of buzzard last weekend going south that was noticed at penny and woolston cotained at woolston a female Goshawk,so it does make me wonder if they travel south together when theres a movement south.
Cracking record that John, well done mate!!
Goshawk-1 massive specimen south over yacht clubs 13.20(with a small passage south of 8 buzzard. 8 buzzard and goshawk in the air at once)new bird for the flash for me which don't come too often these days.
Common Buzzard-12 all going south between 13.15 and 13.40
Arctic tern- 1 juv only seen once at 1300 not seen again
redwing-100+
skylark- steady passage south around 1200-1300 approx 120 birds
meadow pipit-12
goldeneye-2
green sandpiper-1
large numbers of tufted duck/gadwall/mallard/teal/shoveler
greater black backed gull 1 ad/1juv
Peregrine-1 over west 12.30
sparrowhawk-2
kestrel-2
plus the usuals
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 22nd of October 2011 04:30:32 PM
Plus: Buzzard, Kingfisher (Edmonson's)
Lots of Shoveler and Teal
Great Spotted Woodpecker joined the party at Bunting Hide
Plus the usuals
-- Edited by John Doherty on Friday 21st of October 2011 07:01:57 PM
And me ,I have been wrong before many times
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 21st of October 2011 06:51:04 PM
Just checked the Collins and between the two species there really isn't much in it. Dark carpal bars present on both species and White rump on Arctic and pale grey rump on Common Tern.
As you said John, it did have short legs and I did note the streamers seemed a little long. I'll bow to your greater experience of this and agree with you. That said, I'll still be interested to see what Ian says though.